I love this app - I need this app. First of all, thank you, Mylestone Health, again and again for creating this app, for giving it to us for free, and for continuing to work to make it better.
With that being said, I almost feel guilty giving you a three star review this time around. But, I am sorry to say, this version is not quite as good as the original (which is 5+++ stars all the way).
The facelift is a good start. However, it has some drawbacks. Here are the positives (+) and negatives (-) to the new version:
- The "my harbour" page is unnecessary and slows me down: I don't really need to see 'my info'; 'settings'; and 'goodies' everytime I open the app. These are categories I rarely use - I access them to set up my app and hardly look at them again. They can go on the bottom of the screen. No need for a separate page for them. Better yet, go back to the original design where GB always opens to the logs page.
- When I open GB, it is always to add a log or check my logs. That's why the original design worked so well. Once GB started, I had all my logs displayed, and I only had to push the "+" button to add a log. It was quick and efficient. Please go back to the original design with the log as the startup page and put the "my harbour" buttons on the bottom of the page. (Redundant point, but I felt it needed stressing)
- Having the 'add log' button on its own makes the app more complex than it was. The original was best because it was simpler: basically, the logs are like a list, and it is good to see the list first before you add anything to it. Having the 'my harbour' page open first and then having the 'add log' button on its own is somewhat illogical. Its like you have this list going and you're writing things down before seeing what you already had there. I always double check my last entry to make sure I don't do multiple entries of the same thing.
+ The new 'add log' page was a bit confusing at first, but took only a couple of seconds to re-learn. I think it's great! The number pad makes entering values so much faster. Good job!
+ The 'quick sync' button with the number of logs needed to be synced is also perfect. You should put the following buttons on the bottom of the logs screen: quick sync; logs; testing/graphs; settings (which contain my info and goodies). And again, have GB open with the logs screen like it used to.
- The contrast, graphics (text), and colors on the new version is not as good as the old version. The gray background for the logs makes it difficult to read. It is also rather unpleasant for the eyes and not as bright. And the text display is not as nice either. Please bring back the old look of the logs. They were easier to read because the letters and numbers were the same size. Also, the white background with black bold letters is much easier on the eyes. And, like other reveiwers, I too miss the picture graphics that represent the type of entry. Overall, the look of GB is now darker, dimmer, and just not as pretty.
-- Not so much gray, please. All that grayness makes me not want to look at the app anymore. White background for text is best. Black background for buttons area. (Another redundant point yes, but needed stressing).
+ Much easier to edit logs entered.
+ Got rid of the multiple checks problem on my food list. Thank you!! [In the old GB, I had entered a set list of foods I often ate and whenever I selected a food, the check never disappeared. So, after a couple of food log entries, I would end up with three checks in the food list, making some foods un-selectable.]
So, three stars for version 3.0. But the app itself and its functionality and usefulness deserves ten+ stars!
For those who are contemplating getting GB, don't let my critique above discourage you. Only the look and feel of the app has changed with the new version, but its practical use is still the same. This app is a necessity for any diabetic who wants to take firm control of their blood sugar levels. This version just shows that it's creators are still working to make it better. Also, the app comes with really good tech support! Now that's a major plus. The people who made this care about their product. I emailed them with a problem and they got back to me the same day - and were very helpful and courteous too. So, get the app, use it, and just wait a bit. I'm sure they'll make the next version better.